What are your thoughts about inclusion as a teacher?  What concerns do yo have in implementing inclusive practices?

Janis Embree
2/6/2012 01:20:57 pm

The video is a celebration of 35 years of IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The video begins by talking about how people with disabilities were placed in institutions for life. In the early 1900’s the states had passed laws stating that children with disabilities could not attend public school. In 1975, children with disabilities were allowed to go to school and be educated with nondisabled students. Over time, additional changes have been made to IDEA to provide additional rights and protections to individuals with disabilities. These rights have included placement in the least restrictive environment, parental and student input on the child’s education and future, and higher expectations for students to achieve in education and in the workforce.
I thought the video was well done. It provided a summary of the history of IDEA. The choice of photographs enhanced the story that was being told. The video ended with a message of hope for individuals with disabilities. Hope that those individuals with disabilities would find their place in society and continue to contribute to society through continuing education and in the workforce.

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Meggan Heaps
2/7/2012 06:41:50 am

I think that inclusion is a good idea and I fully support it. I feel that it is necessary to allow every child to have the classroom experience that they deserve, even if they have a disability. Yes, inclusion is a lot of work, but i feel that it is our responsibility as teachers to take on the task of including special ed children into the classroom.

My concern with implementing inclusion is that I want to make sure I can meet all the needs of my students in the classroom. If I have a student with a disibility in my classroom, I want to make sure that I am not spending the majority of my time with that student and jeopardizing my other students education buy not giving them the same amount of support. In other words, I want to make sure that I am giving each and every one of my students a great education and providing everyone with the support they need. Inclusion is a lot of work but it is well worth it!

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Janis Embree
2/7/2012 12:23:00 pm

I agree that inclusion is a good idea and a lot of work. I agree that it is our responsibility as teachers to include special education students in our classroom. We should also be the role models for other teachers.There are many teachers who are teaching who struggle with inclusion. Some just don't like having special needs students in their classroom. We, as special education teachers, need to be aware of these teachers and be willing to guide them in ways to have an inclusive classroom that will benefit all their students.

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Janis Embree
2/7/2012 12:16:13 pm

Inclusion is very important in a classroom. Most students with disabilities can benefit from inclusion. Students without disabilities also benefit from inclusion. The students work and learn side-by-side. They help each other with class assignments. Inclusion can help students become more understanding of students who are different from them.
My concerns for myself are being sure I have structured class assignments to meet the needs of all my students and to provide a challenge so they can grow. Wanting to spend more time with the students who need support and not negelect the needs of the rest of the class is a delicate balancing act.

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Joe Sullivan
2/7/2012 01:44:12 pm

I feel that inclusion benefits not only the student with a disability but the general education students as well. Inclusion provides an opportunity for a student with a disability not only accesses the same curriculum as the general education students, but it also gives the students the ability to socialize with their peers. It also helps build acceptance to those that might be seen as different. The only concerns that I have about inclusion are that there is a right way to implement it and a wrong way. When a student with special needs is in the general education setting, the proper support needs to be in place to allow that student to be successful. In some cases students with special needs are merely placed in a general education class but they do not have the proper support.

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Janis Embree
2/8/2012 12:00:08 pm

I agree that inclusion benefits all students. You bring up an important point that students with disabilities are able to socialize with their peers in an inclusive environment. That is important to all students. They need to feel they can fit in with their peers. Supports for the special needs students are important to allow they to receive the most from the education in the inclusive classroom.

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Toby
2/8/2012 02:46:43 am

Inclusion has the potential to be a great model, if the supports are in place. We all need to remember that it is called an "individualized education plan" for a reason. Each individual is different, and needs to be treated as such. Inclusion has many benefits for both regular and special education students. Of paramount importance is the role of social acceptance and peer relationships. We would all agree that all students wish to "fit in.". That looks different for every student. Education is important, but equally important is social acceptance. Social acceptance will be a part of a student's life long after a science class.

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Adam Torrero
2/28/2012 06:20:40 am

Inclusion is one of the most challenging and rewarding elements in a classroom. Being able to create a lesson plan and recreate to accomodate the needs of all the students in class and give them the bennifit of being apart of the gernaral class is the result of an educated and resourceful teacher.
I feel that this is one task that will take experience.

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